Birds of Prey of Georgia
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See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264898130 Birds of Prey of Georgia Book · January 2013 DOI: 10.13140/2.1.1904.3208 CITATIONS READS 4 1,029 1 author: Alexander Abuladze Ilia State University 99 PUBLICATIONS 159 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Birds of Georgia View project Birds of Prey of the Caucasus View project All content following this page was uploaded by Alexander Abuladze on 20 August 2014. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. Materials towards a Fauna of Georgia Issue VI Alexander Abuladze Birds of Prey of Georgia Tbilisi 2013 1 2 ილიას სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტის ზოოლოგიის ინსტიტუტი Institute of Zoology Ilia State University Alexander Abuladze ალექსანდრე აბულაძე Birds of Prey of Georgia საქართველოს მტაცებელი ფრინველები Materials towards a Fauna of Georgia Issue VI ნაშრომი დაფინანსებულია შოთა რუსთაველის ეროვნული სამეცნიერო ფონდის მიერ. გრანტი № 1-201 Tbilisi 2013 3 UDC 598.2|9 ა -206 © A.Abuladze ა.აბულაძე Printing House “Lasha Khvichia”, 2013 გამომცემლობა „ლაშა ხვიჩია“, 2013 Tbilisi, 0102, Tsinamdzgvrishvili Str. 24/11, : 295 31 60, e-mail: [email protected] თბილისი, 0102, მ. წინამძღვრიშვილის ქ. 24/11 ISBN 978-9941-0-5397-9 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENS The beginning of the research of Birds of Prey in Georgia and Caucasus was initiated in 1972 by my Mentor Professor Vladimir Flint (1924-2004), an outstanding Russian ornithologist, zoologist and conservationist, Member of the International Ornithological Committee, Honorary Life Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union, and First Honorary President of the Russian Bird Conservation Union. All the field works within the limits of Georgia, expeditions to Northern Caucasus, Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as participation in numerous ornithological conferences, congress, workshops, meetings, visits and work with collections in various zoological and Nature History museums, ringing centers, libraries, trainings, etc. from 1973 till 1992 and in 2009–2012 were supported by the Institute of Zoology of Academy of Science of Georgia, later – of Ilia State University. During all stages of my researches great support was given by the former Director of the Institute of Zoology in 1970’s-1980’s, Academician, Professor, Dr. Boris Kurashvili (1912-2007). Special great thanks are given to my Mentor, Colleague and old good friend - Professor Dr. Vladimir Galushin for great help on the all stages of work, scientific consultations and helpful recommendations. I would like to thank my friends, former researchers from Institute of Zoology of the Georgian Academy of Sciencie, (Ilia State Unuversity) Benjamin Eligulashvili, living presently in Eilat, Israel and Georgi Rostiashvili, living in Moscow, Russia, for their field assistance in all fieldworks, carried out in 1980’s. I am very thankful to my colleagues and friends Andrei Kandaurov and Alexander Bukhnikashvili for great help on the all stages of work, including active participation in field works, collecting of data, comments on the manuscript, editing and preparing of materials for publishing. Special complements should be addressed to my colleagues and good friends Dr. Lena Lebedeva-Hoft (The Netherlands) and Jevgeni Shergalin for his help in translating of some parts of text and making my English more readable and for valuable critical comments and helpful consultations. Arthur Green (The Hawk Migration Association of North America) is thanked for correcting the English in manuscript. Also, I am grateful to Dr. Evgeni Koblik, ornithologist from Zoological Museum of Moscow State University for his drawing used for cover illustration. I wish thank Giorgi Beruchashvili (WWF Caucasus Programme Office, Tbilisi, Georgia) who prepared two maps for this book. I also think Mzia Kokhia and Nino Beltadze, who helped in work during preparing of collected materials and analyses of literature. 5 In 1970’s – 1980’s field works in many regions and provinces of Georgia and Caucasus (Abkhazia, Ajaria, Guria, Samegrelo, Imereti, Kakheti, Pshavi, Khevsureti, Gudamakari, Mtiuleti, Tusheti, Truso gorge, Iori-Table land, Djavakheti Upland, Nature Reserves of North Caucasus, Talysh Mountains, Zuvand, Shirvan and Gobustan semi- deserts and Nature Reserves in Azerbaijan, Khosrov Nature Reserve northern Armenia, etc.) were carried out together with my colleagues and friend - researchers from the Institute of Zoology of Academy of Sciences of Georgia (presently of Ilia State University) – Severian Kokhia, Vakhtang Pitskhelauri, Valeri Negmedzianov, Eristo Kvavadze, Mzia Kokhia, Georgi Bakhtadze, Edisher Tskahdaia, Gia Edisherashvili, Galina Enukidze, Severian Salakaia, Yuri Verba, Revaz Janashvili, Nodari Kavtaradze, Alexi Arabuli, Edisher Jankarashvili. In 1975 – 1980 a series of field works in sources of Aragvi River, in Pshavi, Khevsureti, at Trialeti Ridge, Iori Table-land and in Abkhazia were conducted in co-operation with Georgian zoologists Arnoldi Gegechkori, Michail Perov and Mikhail Bakradze (Tbilisi State University). In 1977-1978 field work in Svaneti, Tacha, Khevsureti, Pshavi, Gudamakari, Mtiuledti, and Khevi provinces were conducted in assistance with Gvanji Mania and Tite Chikovani. Prey remains were identified mostly by the researchers of the Institute of Zoology. Osteological materials of mammals were identified by Severian Kokhia, Irina Morgilevskaya, Galina Enukidze, Tina Begelauri and Alexi Arabuli, remains of reptiles and amphibians were identified by Teimuraz Muskheliushvili, Vakhtang Pitskhelauri, Valery Negmedzianov, fish remains – by Rostom Elanidze and Mikheil Demetrashvili, invertebrates by Avtandil Cholokava, Nadezhda Japaridze, Gans Rekk, Nino Rekk, Madlena Jambazishvili, Lamara Gurgenidze, Eristo Kvavadze, Edisher Tskhadaia. In 1980’s practically all pellets and prey remains were collected and developed by my assistant and good friend, late Alexander Mtatsmindeli (1963-2012). The summarized data on numbers of raptors, trapped in Ajaria and some site of Guria Region by “bazieri” – local falconers, were provided regularly in 1979–1991 by Chairman of the Association of hunting birds of Georgia, late Mr. Givi Chogovadze. Additional data were provided by several falconers from Ajaria, Abkhazia, of Samegrelo, Imereti, and Tbilisi (Abduli Bagratishvili, Ramiz Beridze, Mevludi Sarkhanidze, Ioseb Jgamadze, Givi Nodia, Gogi Vacheishvili, David Tsarielashvili). The ringing data and general information on the numbers of killed by poachers raptors in country were provided in 1970’s-1980’s by late Mr. Levan Guniava – former Deputy Chairman of the “Monkavshiri”, Hanter’s Society of Georgia. In 1973 – 1979, the similar data, collected at the territories of Army Game farms in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan were provided by huntsman of the All-Army Military- 6 Hunters Society and the Regional Council of the Trans-Caucasian Military Region, late Mr. Donat S. Tsygankov. From 1977 to 1986 the data on raptor mortality due to electrocution and due to collisions with power lines at the territory of Georgia were regularly provided by regional branches of the Ministry of Energetic. I thank the some foundations, in first turn International Scientific Foundation, Shota Rustaveli National Scientific Foundation, George Soros Foundation, WWF, BirdLife International, UNESCO Scientific Programme “Man and Biosphere”, Deutsche Naturschutzbund for financial support, enabling me to participate in the conference, workshops and meetings as well as visits in various museums, libraries. In 1994-1995 field works were carried out with the help of the grant from George Soros Foundation. In 1992-1993 the field works in Caucasus, participation in some conferences and workshops, visits in museums, libraries ringing centers has been sponsored by my colleague and friend, former researcher from the Institute of Zoology of Georgia, Georgi Rostiashvili. I am grateful to Dr. Yuri Milobog (Krivyi Rih State University, Ukraine) for financial support, enabling me to participate in the conferences on Birds of Prey and Owls in Ukraine in 2008 and 2012. During the collecting of data within the limits of various protected areas great help and field assistance were provided by many colleagues in Nature Reserves and other protected areas in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Northern Caucasus of Russia. In Georgia these persons were: Shota Eriashvili, Irakli Shavliashvili and Pavel Akimenko (Lagodekhi Nature Reserve), Teimuraz Baratashvili (Borjomi Nature Reserve, Meskheti Ridge, Surami Ridge, Chachuna Game Reserve), Jumberi Jobava (Kintrishi Nature Reserve), Zaal Sikharulidze (Saguramo Nature Reserve), Paata Khumarashvili, Viktor Zaldastanishvili, Jondo Vasadze, Gocha Tsotskhalashvili (Vashlovani Nature Reserve), Kote Tsikhiseli (Chachuna Managed Reserve), Tariel Kapanadze (Gardabani Managed Reserve); in Russia – Dr. Petr Tilba (Caucasian Biosphere Nature Reserve), Dr. Vladimir Polivanov, Anatoli Vitovich (Teberda Nature Reserve ); in Armenia - Boris Geilikman, Armen Unanian (Khosrov Nature Reserve); in Azerbaijan – Raisa Abdullaeva (Zakatala Nature Reserve), Kyamal Damirov (Mingechaur meteorological station). Field works has been possible thanks to great help, assistance, hospitality and support of the many persons living in areas where field works has been conducted. These persons were – Shota Giorgadze (Prone River valley, Akhalgori and Znauri districts, Shida Kartli Region), Artur Grigorian and Revaz Chumburidze (Kumisi